Desuperheating system



Feb. 7, 1933. D. w. RUDORFF DESUPERHEATING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY /VKQLQ,

ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1933. w RUDQRFF 1,896,247

DESUPERHEATING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT f OFFICE-- PANY, OF YORK, N. Y,

DESUPERKEATING SYSTEM Application filed September 19,1931. semi No. 563,782.

The present invention has general reference to a method of and means for converting superheated steam into saturated steam or into steam of less superheat, and more particularly to a desuperheating apparatus of the open type in which the steam to be desuperheated is brought directly into contact with cooling water, without, however, resorting to any injection of water into the steam by means of spray nozzles or the like.

An object of the invention is to'provide a desuperheating apparatus in which a thin, rotating film is contacted with superheated steam travelling at a relatively high velocity and transversely with respect to the path of travel of the film. 3

Another object is to provide a desuperheating apparatus of relativelyv small size havin a high rate of desuperlieating a large quantity of steam. 1

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention may be best understood by referen ce to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

. Fig. 1 is a sectional, and partly a schematic view of the desu .erheating arrangement. 7

Fig. 2 is an en arged sectional view, take-n along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view on the line .33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary inside view of the drum showing particularly a portion of the closely meshed screen taken along the line 44,Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows.

"In accordance with the invention, the -desuperheating system comprises" a desup erheating apparatus, generally denoted A, associated witha water storage, and a water circuit, broadly designated B. The desuper heating apparatus includes a cylindrical casing 10 having an inclined superheated steam inlet pipe 11 and a vertically disposed steam outlet pipe 12. The casing .10 includes supporting legs 13 for spacing the desuperheating casing above the flooring 14.

A rotatable drum, broadly designated 15, is disposed within the casing 10 and isse cured to the longitudinally disposed shaft, generally designated 16, the latter being suitnaoonna'r w. nononrr, on NEW YORK, n. Y;, Assmnon'ro THE surnanmrnn 00M ably journaled t t istnchions i7 18 and 19.: 1

Forming a part of inlet 11 and in spaced relation with shaft 16 and surrounding a portion of the latter'is ahorizontally are ranged overhanging stationary pipe 20 which merges and is integral with the inclined inlet pipe 11 and side 21, integral with casing 'Incl'ned inlet pipe 11 includes anolfset -10. .Extending downwardly and outwardly perforated portion 26, through which shaft 16 extends; and packing, kept inplace in the usual way by packing gland 27 between the shaft and theop'ening in the offset, provides a steam tight joint, valthough permitting the I shaft to rotate freely; Side wall 22 of the casingembodies a fixed bearing 28'whichin association with. packing held in place by packing gland 29 provides a fluid tight joint preventing leakage between bearing 28 .and the shaft '16.

The revolving drum or rotor 15 comprises a perforated si e wall 30 secured to the hol' low portion 31 of shaft 16 in any preferred manner. The hollow portion of shaft 16 extends from apoint adjacent the inner surface of side wall 30ofthe drum exteriorly thereof through bearing 28 and packing gland 29 to the bearing 32 carried by the stanchion '19.. Solid portion 33 of the shaft is suitably connected to the hollow portion 31 ormay be j unitary with it and extends across the interior of the drum through packing gland 27 and into bearing 34 on stanchion 17f. Itwill ofpipe 20; and theinner surface of the rotat-' able drum. v

. superheated steam inlet pipe 1. 1

be noted that the superheated steam'inlet pipe fore leaving the inner over-hanging pipe 20 is preferably given a whirling motion, being increased in velocity and twisted out of its course of direction to flow substantially in the path of a helix, the direction of the latter being counter to the rotation of a cylindrical Water film, hereinafter more particularly set forth, with which it contacts. To thisend, pipe 20 on its inner surface is provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed, stationary, spaced, twisted fins or vanes 38. The superheated steam passing in annular duct 36 strikes the spaced vanes 38 which impart a vortex motion to it. 1 I

. For driving the drum at a constantspeed, shaft 16 has secured thereto pulley 4O driven by endless belt 41 placed in motion by the constant speed electric motor 42. o

Bearing 32 in which the hollowportion 31 of the shaft is journaled includes a chamber 43 communicating with the bore or water duct 44 in the hollow shaft portion 31. Water from the storage tank 25 is forced into the delivery pipe 46 by the action of pump 45 and into chamber 48, andthrough duct 44, and from the latter the water is v transmitted into [drum 15, revolving at high speed, through the opposed orifices47 disposed transversely of the shaft and terminating within proximity tothe inner surface of the side wall 30 of the drum.

Since drum l5 revolves at high speed, the water therein is distributed by centrifugal force to the inside cylindrical surface thereof, forming a cylindrical filmof Water whose depth is regulated automatically by the overflow openings as 49. I

For synchronizing the speed of the film with the drum, the inner surface thereof in cludes'a plurality of longitudinally disposed shallow water receiving troughs o-r grooves as 54 spaced apart by intervening ribs'f55 to which is secured the fine-mesh cylindrical screen 56, which provides sufficient. friction between the drumand the film to prevent the latter from slipping or'lagging behind the speed of the drum. In add1tion,.the screen retains a small portion of water from the grooves due to surface tension, even though the desuperheater drumhas been stopped and this retained water is utilized in startingthe operation of the desuperheater. I i

The screen has the further purpose of preventing moisture from being entrained in the steam traversing the annular space 37, as particles ofmoisture which might have a tendency to leave the surface of-the rotating film or the screen, are held back by centrifugal force if the drum is rotating'at or above a predetermined speed. 5 Although the drum preferably includes troughs as 54 suitably screened by closely spaced wire meshing, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited in this respect and in practice the screen may in some cases be omitted and the inner surface of the rotatable drum may in some cases be made smooth and unbroken without any water receiving troughs and with such a construction the desuperheated steam between the drum and casing will also be free of entrained moisture as the centrifugal force on the film prevents any particle of moisture to leave it and intermingle with the steam in the process of desuperheating.

With the steam traveling at a relatively high velocity and having substantially a rotary movement when entering into the passageway 35 and into the annular pass 37 between the over-hanging pipe 20 and the rotating water film of the drum, a sufiicient quantity of water will'be evaporated to desuperheat the steamto the desired temperature. Obviously a very highrate of heat transmission'between the steam and the film is attained due tothe direct contact and high relative ivelocities between the superheated steam and the rotating film.

The cooled steam leaves opening 50 and passes between the outside cylindricalsurface of drum 15 and the inner face of the casing 10 andis directed into outlet pipe 12 to which the nipple 69 is connected.

Annular baffle 52 secured to the casing pre vents intermingling of the water discharged from orifices 49 with desuperheated steam between the outer cylindrical surface of the drum and casing.

To increase further the rate of evapora tion of the film of water it will be noted that the desuperheated steam passes along the outside surface of the drum, transmitting a slight amount of'heat thereto which preheats the water film on the inner surface of the drum. j

Provisions have been made to prevent flooding of the drum with water in the event shaft 16 is below a predetermined speed. CF01 this purpose,a fly ball governorbroadly denoted 57 is operatively connected tojthe circuit making and breaking arm 58 which is pivoted at 59 on arm 60 secured to stanchion 19. Below predetermined speed of shaft 16 contact 61 is open and consequently the electric circuit 62' of motor 63 for water pump 45 is also open. Therefore, at this time pump 45 is at rest' and no water is delivered into the However, at or above the predetermined speed for which thegovernor is set; circuit 62 will be closed rendering effective pump 45 to supply the drum with a required amount of Water for desuperheating the steam.

Splash or any overflow. of wateristaken care of at the overflow orifices 49 spilling any excess Water into the water leg 23 which is drained by the return pipe 24 and the latter empties into the storage tank 25, the return water being. substantially at evaporating temperature.

' Feedwater is supplied to thestorage tank 1 0 wea er:

through pipe 65 connected to a suitable water supply source (not shown) and the water float regulator 66 automatically maintains the head of water in the tank constant.

Pipe 67 connects the steam space of the tank to pipe 68 which in turn is connected to the steam space of the water regulator 66 and the coupling 69 to which outlet 12 and pipe 70 are connected. Pipe 68 directs any steam from the storage tank and water regulator to the coupling. This steam will almost be negligible in quantity and will be intermixed with the desuperheated steam, imparting thereto practically no undesirable effect.

' superheated steam is directed into inlet 11 from pipe 7 2 which is connected with pipe 7 3 associated with a superheated steam source (not shown). Pipe 7(), connecting pipe 72 with coupling 69, includes a valve 74 which may be adjusted to by-pass a certain amount of superheated steam for intermingling with the desuperheated steam to regulate the temperature thereof.

The foregoing disclosure has been given by way of example for purposes of illustration and understanding of the scope and underlying principles of my invention. Accordingly, no unnecessary limitations should be understood and the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the state of the art permits.

hat I claim is:

1. In a desuperheating system, a casing, a shaft extending through and journaled thereto, a steam intake spaced from and surrounding said shaft, a rotatable drum fixed to the latter and spaced from the walls of said casing and intake and extending between the two, driving means for said shaft, means to supply fluid into the drum through a portion of said shaft and establish a fluid film to rotate within and with said drum, means to regulate the amount of fluid supplied in response to the speed of the shaft, means within the aforementioned intake for translating the linear travel of the superheated steam in the intake into a substantially helical path for travel between the intake and rotatable drum to contact with said rotating film and desuperheat the steam, and means for directing the desuperheated steam to a point of use.

2. In a desuperheating system, a casing, a shaft extending through and journaled to said casing, a drum spaced from the latter and mounted on said shaft, a superheated steam intake extending exteriorly of said casing and within the latter and being interposed between the drum and shaft and spaced therefrom, a plurality of spaced vanes asso-- ciated with said intake for twisting the path of travel of said steam admitted substantially into the form of a helix, means for directing twisted steam between the intake and drum, means for feeding water into the drum to essaid 'casing, driving means for said shaft,

means for supplying water into said drum through a portion of said shaft to set up a revolving water film in the drum to contact and desuperheat said steam, and means responsive to the speed of the driving means 1 to regulate the amount .of water supplied.

4. In a desuperheating system, a casing, a shaft extending through and j ournaled to said casing, a drum mounted on said shaft, means for admitting superheated steam into said i casing, driving means for said shaft,.means for supplying fluid into said drum to set up a revolving fluid film therein and desuperheat the steam admitted, means responsive to the speed of the driving means to regulate the amount of water supplied, outlet means for said desuperheated steam, and means to prevent entrainedmoisture in the latter.

5. The system according to c1aim4 wherein means are provided for controlling the" thickness of said film.

6. The system according to claim 4 wherein said supply means comprise a water storage tank operatively connected to the casing and a portion of said shaft.

7. In a desuperheating system, a casing, a

shaft extending through and journaled to said casing, a drum mounted on said shaft, inlet means admitting superheated steam into said casing, stationary vanes in the pathvof said steam for translating the linear motion of the latter into a substantially rotary motion, driving means for said shaft, the latter including a hollow portion in communication with the interior of said drum, a watertank, means for forcing water from said tank into the hollow portion to set up in response to a predetermined speed of said driving means a thin water film in the drum to contact with and desuperheat said steam, and regulating means associated with said shaft to control the supply of water entering into said drum, and outlet means associated with said casing for said desuperheated steam.

8. The system specified in'claim 7 in which the casing includes a water leg in communication with said tank.

9. The system according to claim 7 wherein said drum comprises a plurality of fluid receiving grooves and a screen, the latter being adapted to synchronize the speed of the film with the drum and prevent entrained moisture in the desuperheated steam.

10. The system according to claim 7 further characterized in that means arepro- 513.0

vided between the inlet and outlet means on said casing to by-pass superheated steam'for controlling the temperatureof the desuperheated steam in said outlet means.

5 11. In the art of desuperheating steam, the step of contacting a thin rotating film of Water rotating at a relatively high velocity with superheated steam traveling in a direc: tion counter to said film and at a high rela- -1 tive velocity to desuperheat said steam.

\DAGOBERT W. RUDORFF. 

